The Effect of Ketamine on Attentiveness

This will be a double-blind (neither physician nor patient knows the name of the assigned drug), placebo-controlled, randomized (study drug assigned by chance), 2 way crossover ketamine challenge study (participants may receive different interventions sequentially during the trial) in 24 healthy male volunteers. For all participants, this study will consist of an eligibility screening examination, two 2-day treatment periods, separated by at least 1 week, and a follow-up examination about 7 days after last dose administration. The maximal study participation for each volunteer will be around 6 weeks. Apart from observing possible neural and vascular ketamine effects, the cerebral ketamine effects will be investigated by simultaneously performing fMRI/EEG during ketamine administration. These investigations will be done while volunteers rest as well as during cognitive testing (visual oddball task). Safety evaluations include continuous monitoring of vital signs and oxygen saturation. Due to the pharmacokinetic properties of ketamine the assessments will start after an intravenous ketamine bolus (drug given directly into the vein over a short period of time) followed by a 1 minute break. During the assessments there is a continuous intravenous (minimal) drug administration. Before the assessments start there will be an intravenous bolus of 0.1 mg/kg ketamine in 5 minutes time followed by a 1 minute break after which a continuous infusion will start of 0.015625 mg/kg/min ketamine. Since the plasma level elevates during the infusion the administered dose will be lowered by 10% every 10 minutes.

Inclusion criteria

• Normal ECG and safety assessments, or minor no-relevant deviations, at screening
• Vital signs: systolic between 100 and 140 mmHg and diastolic between 50 and 90 mmHg and heart rate between 45 and 90 beats/min
• No medication intake in the last four weeks
• Volunteers must have signed an informed consent document indicating that they understand the purpose of and procedures required for the study and are willing to participate in the study and to adhere to the prohibitions and restrictions specified in the protocol
• Negative drug screen

Exclusion criteria

• Participation in another clinical trial in the last 3 months
• Significant allergies, allergic diathesis or known hypersensitivity for ketamine or its ingredients (ie, Benzethonium chloride)
• History of or current significant respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, endocrinological, gastrointestinal, neurological, glaucoma and known liver and kidney failure
• Contraindications for an MRI being performed (claustrophobia, metal parts, pacemaker)
• oxygen saturation pO2 < 90 mmHg
• Clinically significant abnormalities in ECG or laboratory values
• Recent history (within previous 6 months) of alcohol or drug abuse
• History of or current psychiatric diagnoses (DSM-IV, II) or neurological disorders
• Relatives in first or second degree with a schizophrenic disorder
• Serology positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C antibodies or HIV antibodies
• Signs of hyperthyroidism based on the determination of T3, T4 and TSH